お会計をお願いします
okaikei o onegaishimasu
To say check, please in Japanese, use お会計をお願いします (okaikei o onegaishimasu).
お会計をお願いします is the polite and standard way to ask for the bill in any restaurant or cafe, either to have it brought to your table or to pay.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into o-kaikei, the bill and o onegaishimasu, please or I request it.
Which one should you use?
お勘定をお願いします uses a synonym for the bill and means the same.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お会計をお願いします is polite. お勘定をいただけますか, can I have the bill, please, is a more formal way to ask.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as okaikei o onegaishimasu.
Did you know?
- While you may say お会計をお願いします at the table, it is common to find a small tray at the register for your money. Placing your cash or card on the tray instead of handing it directly to the cashier is the standard etiquette.
- The word お勘定 used for the bill comes from a word meaning 'calculation' and was historically used when prices were negotiated rather than fixed.
- When you use お会計をお願いします, you will often receive a small, slim envelope with your bill inside. It is customary to take the envelope rather than the loose slip of paper.
Examples in context
- はい、お会計お願いします。Yes, check, please.
- お会計をお願いします。Okaikei o onegaishimasu.Check, please.
- 別々にお会計をお願いします。Betsubetsu ni okaikei o onegaishimasu.Please check separately.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are finishing their meal at a restaurant.
- 大翔 Hirotoあー、お腹いっぱいだね。Aa, onaka ippai dane.Ah, I'm so full.
- 美咲 Misakiそうだね。すごく美味しかったね。Sou dane. Sugoku oishikatta ne.True. It was really delicious.
- 大翔 Hirotoすみません、お会計をお願いします！Sumimasen, okaikei o onegaishimasu!Excuse me, check please!
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、今日は私が払うね。Hiroto-kun, kyou wa watashi ga harau ne.Hiroto, I'll pay today.
